The 15 Most Painful Sports Celebrations in History

The Ickey Shuffle. The Dirty Bird. The Mile High Salute. Creative celebrations are no stranger to sports, and these days, the art of celebration has been taken to new lengths.

Such is not the case for the 15 following celebrations however, all of which resulted in injury. For some, it was a bittersweet moment, the exuberance of success turned to dismay.

For others, the injury isn't too severe, making the botched celebration hilarious.

Either way, a moment of success quickly turned to pain for these athletes, and in a few cases, for their teammates and fans as well.

To the slides!

15. Lindsey Vonn

In 2009, Lindsey Vonn was celebrating her downhill victory at the world championships by partaking in a bit of champagne.

The only problem was, she grabbed a bottle that had been broken, cutting a tendon in her thumb. Vonn required surgery on her thumb.

14. Kevin Johnson

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

PHOENIX - 1989: Kevin Johnson #7 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles up court during a 1989 season NBA game at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Apparently, an exuberant Charles Barkley can also be a dangerous Charles Barkley.

While celebrating a victory in an April game in 1993, Barkley collided with Kevin Johnson during the celebration (in an apparent attempt at a bear hug), injuring Johnson's knee.

Johnson missed the finale of the regular season and the first game of the playoffs, though he did return and help the Suns reach the NBA Finals, where they were defeated by Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

13. Gus Frerotte

This headbutt to a wall in a game against the Jets in November of 1997 resulted in a sprained neck for Frerotte, forcing him to sit out the entire second half.

No matter—the game ended in an overtime tie. And Frerotte learned that the "running headbutt celebration" is a really, really dumb idea.

12. Dave Dravecky

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

1989: Pitcher Dave Dravecky of the San Francisco Giants looks on. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule /Allsport

In 1988, Dave Dravecky had a cancerous tumor located in the deltoid muscle of his left arm removed, and was given little chance to pitch again.

He would return however, only to break his arm during the 1989 season, ending his career.

But while celebrating with the team later that season after the Giants own the NL Pennant, Dravecky injured the arm again. He would later have the arm amputated.

11. Ryan Dempster

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 29: Ryan Dempster #46 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on May 29, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Pirates 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Ah, the perils of the dugout.

Attempting to jump out of the dugout after a 2009 Cubs win, Dempster caught his foot on the railing and crashed to the ground, breaking his toe and landing him on the DL.

When celebrating, take you time, kids—the celebration isn't going anywhere.

10. Steve Morrow

Simon Bruty/Getty Images

1993: Steve Morrow of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the Coca Cola Cup final against Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley Stadium in London. Arsenal won the match 2-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Simon Bruty/Allsport

After scoring the winning goal and lifting Arsenal past Sheffield in the 1993 League Cup final, Morrow was tragically dropped by one of his teammates.

In the ensuing celebration, Tony Adams lifted Morrow unto his shoulders but unintentionally dropped him, breaking his arm and ending his season.

9. Fabian Espindola

The video pretty much tells the story here, including the absolutely hilarious disallowing of the goal from this 2008 MLS match.

The less hilarious aspect of this video?

The severe ankle sprain Espindola suffered from his failed flip.

8. Chris Coghlan

To see the actual pie incident, go here.

The above resulted in Coghlan tearing the meniscus in his knee during the 2010 season.

Who's got the pie on their face now, Chris?

7. Denny Hocking

Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images

DETROIT- APRIL 3: Third baseman Denny Hocking #7 of the Minnesota Twins tries to keep warm in the dugout during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 3, 2003 in Detroit, Minnesota. The Twins won 3-0. (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty

Denny Hocking probably has the worst celebrating luck in the history of sports.

In 2002, after the Twins won the Division Series, Hocking had his right hand stepped on in the celebration, injuring a finger and forcing him to sit in the ALCS against the Angels.

But there's more—the year before in a September game against the Angels, Hocking was injured after hitting a walk-off home run. In the ensuing celebration, the bill of his helmet was pushed into his nose, breaking it.

As Hocking told USAToday, ""I'm not good at celebrating. I like the whole celebration concept. I just haven't perfected it."

6. Jake Peavy

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 26: Starting pitcher Jake Peavy #44 of the San Diego Padres throws from the mound against the San Francisco Giants during their MLB game on September 26, 2005 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty

Another playoff catastrophe, this time for pitcher Jake Peavy.

Jumping up and down with teammates after clinching the NL West in 2005, Peavy fractured a rib and missed all but one game during the postseason that year.

Peavy tried to pitch against the Cardinals in Game 1 of the NL Division Series, but was rocked for eight runs in four and a third innings.

5. Ted Ginn, Jr.

This was all the celebrating Ohio State would get to do in the crushing 41-14 loss they suffered at the hands of Florida in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game.

After returning the game's opening kickoff for a touchdown, Ginn was mobbed by teammates, injuring his left foot in the celebration.

Ginn—Ohio State's star receiver at the time—missed the remainder of the game, and the rest of the Ohio State roster disappeared as well.

4. Kwok Kin Pong

What happens when you score a goal and take a slide tackle to the face?

You break your nose, that's what happens.

Just ask Kwok Kin Pong.

3. Paulo Diogo

When celebrating, athletes shouldn't go crazy and lose their heads.

Because it might just cost them a finger.

Wait, what?

In 1994, Diogo—playing for the Swiss soccer club Servette FC—assisted on a goal late in the game and ran to the fence to celebrate. The only problem was, his wedding ring caught on to the fence, and a good deal of his finger ripped off.

Yeah, you read that right—ripped off.

To add insult to injury, Diogo was given a yellow card for excessive celebration.

2. Bill Gramatica

He tore his ACL after celebrating a 43-yard make, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.

Silly kickers.

1. Kendry Morales

This was a killer for both the power-hitting Morales and the Angels, as he broke his left leg after hitting this game-winning grand slam for the Angels in May of 2010.

According to ESPN, at the time of the injury he "was leading the Angels in batting average (.290), home runs (11), RBIs (39) and total bases" and "was the only Angel to play in all 51 games."

As a wise man (me) once said (typed just now), he who celebrates a molehill will be crushed by the mountain.

Sun Tzu I'm not.

Be sure to hit me up on Twitter (@TRappaRT) along with the entire B/R Swagger team (@BR_Swagger)